Improvement in flue-cleaners



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NORMAN XV. VVHEELER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLUE CLEANERS.

Specieation forning part of Letters Patent No. 51,249, dated November 28, 1865.

To all whom it may cmcer:

Be it known that I, NORMAN W. WHEELER, of the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Flue-Oleaner, an instrument used for i the purpose of cleaning the flues of steamboilers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, having letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this speeifieation, in which- Figure I represents a sectional elevation of the instrument as applied to a fine, and Fig. II a plan, like letters indicating the same parts in both figures.

The usual way of cleaning the finesot'steanboilers is to sweep theni out with a hrush fixed to the end ot' a long handle, the use ot' which requires that no object shall be in the line of the fiues within their own length of the fine-sheet. Another way is to fix the brush upon the end of ajointed rod and unfold the joints as the brush is inserted, and vce verse, which is a trouhlesone and dirty operation. Another way is to fix the brush to one end of a rope and a weight to the other, the weight being thrown through each flue by one person, while another receives it and hauls the brnsh throu gh-a nore troubleso'ne and dirty operation than the other. And yet another plan has in some instances been resorted to-viz., to fix a stean-nozzle in the chinney in such a way that by a heavyjet of stean directed up the chinney a Very strong draft would be created through the flues; but this last plan is defective, inasnuch as the flues will seldon or never be equally clogged, and those most clogged get the least draft to clear them.

My invention consists in the pipo a, open at both ends, made of such diameter and form that the cnds will fit upon the flue-sheet and inclose one or a limited number of fiues, the pipe a being fitted With a handle,f, of any con- Venient length and form, a steam-nozzle,1-, With its final aXis parallel, or nearly so, with that of the pipe a, and a flexible orjointed steain-pipe, E, connected by a stop-cock With any stean-boiler having a pressure within it greater than one atmosphere. The part oi' the pipe a below the nozzle B may be of any curve to accomnodate the direction of the chinney in relation to the fine-sheet. Now, it' the instrumentbe connected,as above said,and stean turned on, so that a strongjet issues t'ron the nozzle B, a strong current ot' air or gas will be produced, flowing through the pipo in the direction of the arrows, and if the cleaner be placed in the position shown in Fig. I a strong current will be produced through the flue g, suflcient to clear it of any ordinary ludgnent of soot, and by means ot' the hanllefand accomnodation of the flexible or jointed pipe E the instrument may be applied quickly and easily to every fine in a boiler, and applied to either end, if within reach, and indnce the current in either direction.

Having described my invention, I will proceed to indicate that which I consider new and useful, and for which Idesire to secure Letters Patent, viz:

The combination of the pipe a. nnzzle B, handlef, and fiexible or jointed pipe E, constructed substantially as described, and tor the purposes set forth.

NORMAN W; WHEELER.

Witnesses:

EDWIN G. SHOARDS, F. G. PRINDLE. 

